Timelock



Jan. 11, 1938.

\ c. A. 'MILLER TIMELOCK Filed July 13, 1935 [NVENTOR BY /fma t ATTORNEY bers escape.

Patented lan. 11, 1938 STATS PATE? ECE TIMELOCK cut Application `luly 13, 1935, Serial No. 31,165

17 Claims.

This invention` relates to a timlelock of the type adapted to prevent access to a structure.

As is Well known by those skilled in the art, timelocks are adapted to place structures beyond human control for certain definite periods of time. Thus, a banker having a timelock on his safe, is` able in the late afternoon, to set that timelock to open the safe n the morning. Once he closes the door of the safe, it is impossible for anyone to open the safe until the following morning when the time movements run down and operate the mechanism in a predetermined manner well understood by those skilled in this art. During the period of protection, should the banker r be directed to open the safe, he is powerless to do so. Robbers know this and do not even attempt night robberies.

One of the objectionable features of a timelock of this type is that the safe is automatically opened or relieved from time protection in the morning. Thereafter, anyone may open the safe and obtain access to its contents. In those safes which have in addition combination locks, a robber may force the banker to operate the combination upon the expiration of the time protection period.-

In recent years, due to the knowledge by robbers of this weakness of time locks, the early morning holdup has' nourished. I'Ihe robbers determine just when the regular time movements are set to run down, which is naturally just before the opening of the bank for regular business. The banker must be prepared for the possibility of a heavy demand on him early in the morning, and must set his time lock accordingly even though he does not intend to open the safe at the time for which the opening is set. As a matter of fact, it is sometimes not necessary for the banker to open the time protected safe until late in the morning, and sometimes not until late in the afternoon, depending upon` the amount of business which is done. The robbers, having laid their plans, come in early in the morning, hold up the Watchman, and as each employee enters the bank, they take him under guard and then when the time movements have run down, they force the employee having the combination to open the safe. This opening takes place just before business hours, the money is obtained, and the rob- In my invention, a further running of a special time movement is necessary after the running of the regular time movement, and the running of this special time movement may be started only upon manipulation of means outside the safe and after the running of the full period (Cl. l0-269) for which the regular movement is set, so as to set up a delayed time period beyond the regular time period.

My invention makes it possible therefore, to obtain a period of time protection beyond the normal protection effective during the night operation of the regular time movement. In my invention, I utilize the operation of a regular time movement to release certain mechanism at the end of the period for which it is set. a. special time movement which must be released by the said rst movement and by a predetermined additional operation from the outside of the safe. This special time movement must then run for a further predetermined period, generally fteen minutes, before the safe may be opened. In this way, I am able to forestall early morning attacks by robbers who know when the running of the regular time movement terminates,

since even after the running of the regular time movement, there must be a further wait which begins only after the predetermined additional operation on the outside of the safe. Since this additional operation on the outside of the safe may take place early in the morning, or possibly late in the morning, or sometime late in the afternoon, depending upon the conduct of the bank, it is readily seen that the early morning robber is seriously handicapped. He is always faced with an enforced waiting period of fifteen minutes or more. This wait of fifteen minutes is exceedingly important and forestalls the operation of the early morning type of holdup.

More in detail, my invention utilizes a series of three time movements, one of which is set to retract the regular detent mechanism of the timelock after a relatively long period. This movement is an emergency movement and is intended to operate only in case the regular retracting movement fails to operate as intended.

'I'here is a special movement which has contact with a detent retracting bar and which is adapted to retract that bar within a short period of time, usually fifteen minutes, although it may be set for thirty minutes, or forty-five minutes, as the case may be. This special movement is normally maintained wound and stationary by two mechanisms, which may be interlocked or independent, and which may assume many forms. One of these mechanisms is adapted, preferably but not necessarily, to be moved to movement starting position upon the operation of the detent controlled safe bolt in a retracting direction.

The special movement is also controlled by a mechanism under the control of a third and regu- I then have "i lar operating time movement. This regular movement is the type of movement normally used in a timelock for moving the bolt obstructing detent from obstructing position after a predetermined period of time. Instead of using this movement to move the bolt obstructing detent aS is usual in the art, I utilize it for controlling the running of the special movement. Thus, the control mechanism for the special movement is operated by this regular movement after a. period of time, so as to start the running of the special movement to retract the bolt obstructing detent.

While for convenience the two control mechanisms for the special movement are shown and described in particular relation to one another, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations in their relationship may be made without diculty. Similarly, other forms of the control mechanisms may be provided, utilizing the basic contribution of my invention,

For a detailed description of my invention, I shall now refer to the drawing wherein Fig. 1 shows a timelock with the cover in open position. Fig. 2 shows the parts of Fig. l with the movements removed and shows the bolt in operative position relatively to the timelock and the bolt obstructing detent. Parts of the time mechanism are shown in phantom in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a view showing the operation of the cam of the special movement for controlling the stopping and starting of the special movement. Fig. i is a side View of the parts of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral i6 indicates the casing of a regular type of time lock mechanism well known in this art, while reference numeral il indicates the cover for this. casing. A retracting bar i2 is adapted to be moved in a right hand direction by a pin i3 carried on the dial I4 of special movement C and by a pin i5 on dial i6 of the emergency movement A. The emergency movement A is generally set for about seventytwo hours or perhaps forty-eight hours and actuates the bar l2 only under unusual circumstances, such as the stopping of the special'movement C.

The operation` of the bar IZ is adapted, through the lever arm il' and arm i3 illustrated in Fig. 2, to operate the bolt obstructing detent i9 against the tension of spring 2t, as is well known by those skilled in the art. The association of the time mechanism with the bar i2 and the detent i9 is all old in this art and per se forms no part of this invention. Similarly, the manual means which I shall describe presently for operating the starting of the special movement by the attempted retraction of the bolt mechanism also per se forms no part of this invention, although it is an important part of the combination which I have invented. In my patents, No. 1,858,964, and No. 1,962,933 I show the various means already described operating for a different purpose.

The special movement C is adapted to operate for approximately fifteen minutes before moving the bar I2 to withdraw the detent i9 from obstructing position. I utilize two independent means for maintaining the movement C wound and stationary, and for starting the movement. Naturally, certain types of movements will not require starting. One of these means embodies a lever 2i carrying thereon a. spring 22 which cooperates with the balance wheel 23 of the special movement C. Secured to the lever 2l through shaft 38 is a further lever 2d which is in turn operated by the arm 25 of a sliding piece 26 guided by a screw 21 and by further means which need not be shown here. On the arm 49a of the detent i9 there is mounted the sliding piece 28 which is adapted to Contact the portion 25 through screw 25d` and move the same against the arm 2li to move the lever 2 i, and thus move spring 22 into movement releasing and starting positio-n. The operation of the part 28 is by attempted retraction of the bolt mechanism 29 which may take place after the combination mechanism is set.

In my patent, No. 1,858,964, I show a similar operation of a lever i@ by a slide piece 2li actuated by retraction of a bolt 3. Reference should be made to this patent for a detailed description of the operation of the parts indicated and for a clearer indication of their function.

The lever 2i is moved into movement stopping position automatically upon the winding of the movement C which takes place upon the full retraction of the bolt 2g, or when a winding key operates winding post 3Q of the winding mechanism of the movement C. It will be noted from viewing Fig. 2 that the winding post 3G is fixed to a disc Si which carries a pin 32 which is operated by a plate 33 xed for integral movement with the bolt 29 rthrough the intermediary of the member 3d. Thus, upon retracting movement of the bolt 2S, the plate 33 will contact the pin 32 to wind the movement in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2. At the same time, a gear pinion 35 also carried by the winding post Sil asshown in Fig. 1, operates to move the dial M through its teeth 36 in a manner which is common in this art. The teeth 36, however, cooperate with a pinion 3l' which is in frictional engagement with the shaft- 3S on which the arm 2d and the lever 2i are supported. Thus, the movement of the dial lli will act to rotate the pinion 3l and the friction between pinion 3l and the shaft 38 moves the lever Z! into movement stopping position. A more detailed description of this mechanism is presented in my Patent No. 1,962,933 supra, in which this same mechanism is claimed. Thereafter, a setting of the combination mechanism and an attempted retraction of the bolt 29 will act to release the movement from spring 22 on lever 2l as has already been indicated.

For further controlling the balance wheel 23 and therefore the starting of the special movement C', I utilize a lever d pivoted at ji and pressed by a spring 42 so as to move a spring L33 on the lever out of interlocking relation with the said balance wheel 23. portion d5 which cooperates with a cam IM, against which it is pressed by the spring 42. EX- cept when the low part it of cam 1M is opposite part 135, the lever di? is maintained with its spring i3 in locking relation to the balance wheel 23 of movement C. The relation of the parts is such that the low point i6 of the cam M carried on the underside of the dial of the regular movenient B does not come opposite the end 45 of the lever it until the regular movement has run down. Therefore, until the regular movement has run down, the baiance wheel 23 of the special movement C will be held locked.

The operation of the entire mechanism, both from a mechanical viewpoint and from the bankers viewpoint is as follows: At night, the special movement C is wound for iifteen or thirty minutes as the case may be. The regular movement B is wound to open up the following morning at whatever time may be required, generally at The lever di! has a Til 8:45 or 9:00 oclock. Naturally, the special movement will be held in stopped position, due to the cooperation of the levers 2l and 4B and their springs 22 and 43, respectively, with the balance wheel 23. In the morning, at the time set, the regular movement will have run down and the special time movement released in so far as the spring 43 is concerned. Thereafter, upon operation of the outside manual means, in this case bolt 29, the special movement will be released to move the bolt obstructing detent I9 from obstructing position upon the running of the time for which it is set.

Thus, after the running of the regular movement B, the safe is not unlocked or relieved from time protection, and is always protected by a delayed period until a further manual operation has taken place.

As I have indicated already, it is possible to use other means for starting or releasing the special movement C, and for obtaining the results indicated. I believe my contribution to the art to be of such nature that I am entitled to a broad interpretation of the claims appended hereto. t

I claim: l

l. In a time lock for a structure, a time movement, means controlled by the running of said .ovement for a period of time whereby to pernit access to the structure, controlling means -eqniring a predetermined operation as a prerequisite to the running of said movement for said period or time, a second time movement, and means operated through the running of said second time movement for a period of time adapted to operate the said controlling means whereby the running of said first movement is initiated.

2. In a time lock for a structure, a time movement, a bolt, means whereby the running of said time movement is a prerequisite to the retraction of thebolt from a locked position, means operable for initiating the running of said time movement, a second movement, and means whereby the running of said second movement for a predetermined period is'a prerequisite to tbe operation of said first movement by means initiating the running thereof.

3. In a time lock for a structure, a time movement, a bolt, means whereby the running of said time movement is a prerequisite to the retraction of the bolt from a locked position, means operable for initiating the running of said movement, a second time movement, and means opupon the completion of the period of running of said second time movement for operating the means initiating the running of said first movement.

4. In a time rock for a structure, a bolt, a time movement, means operable by the running of said time movement for a relatively short period whereby to release said bolt, said movement being normally retained stationary, means operable for initiating the running of said time movement, a second movement, means operable by said second movement for operating the means for initiating the running said rst movement by running itself for an intermediate time period, and a. third time movement adapted to operate said bolt releasing means by the running for a relatively long period.

5. In a time lock for a structure, a controlling time movement, means whereby the running of said time movement for a predetermined period of time is a prerequisite to the release of said time lock, means operable for initiating the running of said movement for said predetermined period of time, a second movement, means whereby the running of said second movement for a predetermined period is a prerequisite to the operation of the means for initiating the running of said rst movement, manually operable means on the outside of the structure, and means operable by said manually operable means and whose operation is also a prerequisite to the initiation of the running of said first movement.

6. In a time look for a structure, a time movement, means whereby the running of said time movement for a predetermined period of time is a prerequisite to the release of said time lock, dual control means for initiating the running oi said movement, a second time movement, means operable by the running of said second movement for a predetermined period forming part of said dual control means, manually operable means on the outside of the structure, and means operable by said manually operable means forming part of said dual control means, whereby operation of both said second time movement and said manual means is required to initiate the running of said first movement to release said time lock.

7. In a time lock for a structure, a time movement, means whereby the running of said time movement for a predetermined period of time is a prerequisite to the release of said time lock, a pair of detent means operable to initiate the ruiming of said movement, a second time movement, means operable by the running of said second movement for a predetermined period forming one of said detent means, manually operable means on the outside of the structure, and means operable by said manually operable means' forming part of the other of said detent means, whereby operation of both said second time movement and said manual means is required to initiate the running of said rst movement to release said time lock.

8. In a time lock for a structure, a time movement, means whereby the running of said time movement for a predetermined period of time is a prerequisite to the release oi said time lock, means operable for initiating the running of said movement, a second time movement, manual means operable from the outside of the structure, and means whereby said means for initiating the running of said rst movement are operable by the running of said second time movement for a predetermined period and by predetermined operation of said manual means.

9. In a time lock for a structure, a time movement, means whereby the running of said time movement for a predetermined period of time is a prerequisite to the release of said time lock, dual control means for initiating the running of said movement, a second time movement, manual means operable from the outside of the structure, and means whereby said dual control means are operable for initiating the running of said movement by the running of said second time movement for a predetermined period and by predetermined operation of said manual means.

l0. In a time lock for a structure, a time movement, means whereby the running of said time movement for a predetermined period of time is a prerequisite to the release of said time lock, a pair of control means operable to initiate the running of said movement, a second movement, manual means operable from the outside of the structure, means whereby one of said control means is actuated by the running of said second movement for a predetermined period, means whereby the other of said control means is actuated by predetermined manipulation of said manual means, the operation of both of said control means being required to initiate the running of the said movement.

l1. In a time look for a structure, a time movement, means whereby the running of said time movement for a predetermined period of time is a prerequisite to the release of said time lock, a second time movement, a manual means operable from the outside of the structure, and separate means operable by said second time movement and by said manual means to initiate the running of said rst movement to release the time look.

l2; In a time lock for a structure, a time movement, means whereby the running of said time movement for a predetermined period of time is a prerequisite to the release of said time lock, a second time movement, a manual means operable from the outside of the structure, and separate means operable by said second time movement and by said manual means to initiate the running of said first movement to release the time lock, the operation of both said separate means being required to initiate the running of said rst movement.

13. In a time lock for a structure, a time movement, means whereby the running of said time movement for a predetermined period of time is a prerequisite to the release of said time lock, a second time movement, a manual means operable from the outside of the structure, and means operable by said second time movement and by said manual means to initiate the running oi said rst movement to release the time look.

14. In a time lock for a structure, a bolt obstructing detent, a release bar operable to move said detent to non-obstructing position, a pair of movements mounted in usual relation to said release bar, means whereby one of said movements actuates the 'release bar, an escapement control means for said movement, and means on said other movement adapted to move said escapement control means whereby to initiate the running of said rst movement after a predetermined period of operation of said other movement.

15. In a time lock of the class described, a locking detent bar, a time movement adapted to move said detent bar into release position after running a definite period of time, a lever having stop means for holding said movement against running, a second movement, and a cam movable by the running of said second movement for a definite time period for moving said lever and its stop means away from movement stopping position.

16. In a time lock of the class described, a locking detent bar, a time movement adapted to move said detent bar into release position after running a definite period of time, a lever having stop means for holding said movement against running, a second lever also having stop means for holding said movement against running, a second time movement adapted to move said first lever and its stop means away from movement stopping position, and a manually operated means for moving said second lever and its stop means out of movement stopping position.

17. In a time lock for a structure, a bolt for locking said structure, manual means outside the structure for retracting said bolt, a bolt obstructing detent bar,` a time movement for moving said detent bar out of bolt obstructing position after a predetermined period of time, dually operated detent means maintaining said movement stopped,

a second time movement, and means whereby attempted retraction of said bolt and the running of said second time movement for a predetermined period moves said dually operated detent means away from movement stopping position.

CHARLES A. MILLER. 

